(Can one gym even hold that much badass? Magic eightball says, ‘Outlook not so good.’)

As UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierreputs on more weight and continues to dominate every 170-pounder in his path, finding sparring partners who can push him is apparently becoming more of a problem. In a talk with Heavy.com, Tristar Gym owner and longtime GSP trainer Firas Zahabi says that he can’t even put him up against other fighters his own size in training anymore, adding "It’s getting scary. Georges is getting better and better, believe it or not."

Since he mentioned it no less than twice in the interview, we’re assuming Zahabi is serious about getting "The Last Gypsy" in the gym with GSP. If it happens, we can only hope that the cameras are there to capture it for "UFC Primetime." Though who are we kidding, St. Pierre-Mousasi is a sparring session worthy of pay-per-view. Maybe they should just film it and keep it in the can. That way, if GSP runs through Dan Hardy too quickly, they can go ahead and add it to the broadcast to make the fans feel like they got their money’s worth. As an added bonus, it seems like the kind of thing that would really, really piss off M-1 Global.

Cagepotato Comments

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i'm really interested in seeing gehard fight hendo to see how he would stack up against ufc fighters , his skills look amazing but with only one real win against a top 15 fighter , its hard to say how good he really is

robthom- January 20, 2010 at 5:11 pm

UFC will never get Gegard while he's still with Red Devil.

Fedor and Gegard are pretty much their most valuable assets and meal tickets. They'll continue to parley them as a set for as much compensation in return for as little effort or danger as possible, which wont really work with UFC's high pressure matchmaking structure.

Letting either of them go to the UFC would be tantamount to betting the house on a longshot. Not a longshot that they would win or be champs, but a longshot that they would never lose or be challenged and would retain their valuable unbeatable appearance.

I guess its not impossible that Gegard could leave though. He does seem like an odd fit there.
Although that may be about as easy as trying to extricate Chuck from Hackleman.

ArmFarmer- January 20, 2010 at 4:51 pm

Sounds like you are the one looking for a flame war..

There's no inconsitencey in my posts, just a lack of understanding on your part.

Hulk Smash- January 20, 2010 at 12:23 pm

armfarmer, you're all over the place. on the one hand saying gsp didn't achieve much and finishing that post with a remark about how he buzzed through noteworthy fighters.
i'm of the opinion that gsp and penn are close to equals. similar talent and skillsets, both dominating all their opponents easily. except, of course for penn being dominated by gsp (your words.)
now don't go getting all crazy on me, since i won't get into a flame war about who's better. this post is to point out the inconsistency of your own posts. just come out and say you think bj penn is the better fighter, and that's that.
as for the the fighters you said gsp will have trouble with at 185, the only two to offer a challenge to him are marquardt and silva. okami, wandy and franklin are on the downslope of their careers, and the fighting game has changed a lot since they were on top. franklin beat shamrock and tanner because he was the next evolution of the modern mma fighter, and then the same came along and took him down. ask franklin if he noticed that after silva destroyed him. twice.
so, you like penn better. that's all you have to say.

ReX13- January 20, 2010 at 11:23 am

Armfarmer>> I know that i've heard stories about GSP wrestling (training) with guys in LHW and HW with some success. Accept it, either "Rush" came from Professor Xavier's School for Exceptional Children, he lives off of horse meat, or he's an amazing athlete.

Also, i've read that he has heat vision and the power of flight, and his mom dunked him in the River Styx.

One more thing: the only blemishes on BJ Penn are laziness and bitchassery.

ArmFarmer- January 20, 2010 at 10:34 am

GSP has a big size advantage against every opponent. I don't know if he will fair as well at mw. There are plenty of big strong guys that he will struggle to take down. Henderson, Marquardt, Sonnen, Okami, Wandy, Franklin, and of course Anderson.. I think all of these guys would be very tough fights for gsp at mw. Do you really see him running through these guys the way Anderson has run through everyone he's faced both at mw and lhw?

His win over Penn doesn't mean a lot in terms of legacy. He is a huge ww so beating a lw by outwrestling him for 4 rounds isn't a huge accomplishment. Think of it this way, gsp beat a champion a weight class below his own while penn beat a dominant champion a weight class above his own.. in under 5 minutes. Penn has held titles in two weight classes and gsp hasn't even had a single fight at mw. Penn has also demolished the lw division for a very long time and there are no signs that that will end soon.

The only blemishes on Penns resume are a loss to Pulver(for lw title) that was so long ago that it's not relevant, a decision loss to Machida (mw champ), competitive losses to Hughes and GSP (ww champs), and domination by GSP. I don't think those diminish his legacey all that much.. at least not his legacey as a lightweight.

danomite- January 20, 2010 at 10:30 am

CP is on the verge of giving GSP the announcer's jinx. As a fan of GSP i would appreciate if you stopped treating UFC 111 like it's going to be Dan Hardy's funeral. Also, isn't Jon Jones training at Tristar now? Is it getting to the point where even Jon Jones isn't able to push GSP hard enough?

ReX13- January 20, 2010 at 9:29 am

The Factor>> Very much so. We Americans do not need to leave our country to find an accent to be amused annoyed by. Some of us even try to shed the accents we grew up with and adopt a more neutral speech pattern.

TheFactor- January 20, 2010 at 8:58 am

@ ReX13

About number 2

Have you noticed some of the accents in your own back yard of the US ?

LOL

TheFactor- January 20, 2010 at 8:57 am

Also ?

How could he pale in comparison to Penn ... he beat him easy.

ArmFarmer- January 20, 2010 at 8:34 am

@the factor

GSP's accomplishments pale in comparison to Silva, Fedor, and even Penn. I had this discussion with a friend the other day and GSP really only has a few title defenses and not against the best compition. Losing to Serra really screwed up his legacey because many of his fights were to win the the title, to win the title back, or to get shots at the title. Both wins over hughes were not title defenses, the win over serra was not a title defense, the win over kos wasn't.. that said he still ran through a lot of great fighters.

Kimbos Bread- January 20, 2010 at 7:05 am

@ ReX13

Re: Point # 7

That's a real nasty habit you got there.

TheFactor- January 20, 2010 at 6:52 am

GSP is on route to becoming the most legendary MMA fighter of all time. This is a great time to be a fighter and a fan. How often do you get to see the explosion of a new sport and all the legendary stroies that go along with it.

Clinch-Smash- January 20, 2010 at 6:28 am

double post, my bad

Clinch-Smash- January 20, 2010 at 6:27 am

^good stuff, agreed, but change amused to annoyed. and t-rex is pretty good.

ReX13- January 20, 2010 at 6:13 am

These are truths i hold to be self-evident:

1) GSP is a card-carrying badass that had a bad day once (Serra) and learned a lesson. He will never take an opponent lightly again.

2) No American can decide whose accent is more amusing--Hardy's or St Pierre's.

3) A professional MMA coach/manager/gym owner generally has a good idea of who has talent, who has skill, and who has both.

4) If you hold a title in any of the world's big four MMA productions, you probably have talent and skill.

5) If you fight at 170 pounds, and you train against guys who fight at 205, you are probably going to ruin guys who fight at 170 pounds.

6) Scott "Lyin' Hard" Blevins read the piece that resulted from his exclusive interview with CP (who wouldn't? Besides, dude is nobody; of course he wants to read about himself on the interwebs), saw the fan reaction, and immediately sent an email to the Bens to remove the article.

7) Sarah Ponce is easily one of the fifty most desirable women on the planet, and AskMen.com are a bunch of slack-jawed faggots. They need to get some effin' chewin' tobacco, so they can grow up to be sexual Tyrannosauruses.

Hulk Smash- January 20, 2010 at 5:58 am

Lots of angst in here. I'm happy to see Gegard that much closer to being in the UFC. The guy can fight, and fight well. As I mentioned before, we all agree that the UFC is where the best in the world are, so he's going to have to be at his best to keep his reputation going and to silence all those who are worried that fans are hanging off his jock.
If he does fight in the UFC, I want it to be against somebody good. Someone close to being a contender, since I believe that this whole idea of 'gatekeepers' is a joke. Considering what these guys go through for lifestyle, training, etc., it diminishes their efforts by having a good fighter with an established name to enter the UFC and fight a low-level can.
I say let the guy with a big name and a championship in another promotion fight someone of note, someone who has the potential to really challenge his skills. Hardy is a good example: guy did well for himself, beat a few challengers who aren't nobodies, and now he's going for the title. True, nobody that he's beaten is anywhere near challenging GSP for the WW belt, but at the same time they weren't a bunch of hacks on the downslope of their careers, either.
GSP by total humiliation early in the 2nd round. Expect him to be banging Hardy's woman while Hardy's being examined by the neurologist and the MRI team.

ArmFarmer- January 20, 2010 at 4:50 am

Yeah I noticed that too.. guess we were giving "lyin hard" (forgot who originally called him that but it should be his official name from now on) too much shit so they took it down. I don't get why you would constantly feature a delinquent 0-13 fighter with less than 13 minutes of fight time on a real mma website to begin with. I have a better pro record than that guy and I've never even fought pro. 0-0 > 0-13. I've also never been charged with child molestation...

Clinch-Smash- January 20, 2010 at 3:06 am

Sweet-sassy is going to be around for a while and for sure will end up in the UFC sooner or later(lets hope for sooner) and he will do well.

That "does this smell underage" shit is funny as fuck i have been telling all sorts of people about that shit and LOLing randomly since i read it, but were did that story go it's not on CP anymore?

ghostboner- January 20, 2010 at 1:13 am

Dear lord CP you have stumbled upon brilliance! Keeping the footage to show after the main event! That would secure my $50 right quick. Although I do think you are jinxing GSP by completely counting out Hardy.

Kimbo Is Crap- January 20, 2010 at 12:09 am

I do agree that everyone is on mousaucy's dick. hes pretty legit and fun to watch cuase hes a banger. hard to find that now a days unless its on the undercard of a fight night (thats you leben). but the fact that Firas wants him to be part of his pretty legit camp should say something about the kids level of fighting. and lets not forget that Gegard is still young, not exactally an old head in the world of MMA.

Miles- January 19, 2010 at 11:53 pm

I agree with HardKnock. The simple fact that someone like Firas is seeking him out to find a better training partner for GSP says more than any of us being impressed or not-so impressed with him.

831 Son- January 19, 2010 at 11:48 pm

Big Country, you mad pussy? Dont cry just because you have nothing intellectual or relevant to say regarding anything that is posted on here.

831 Son- January 19, 2010 at 11:29 pm

I never said he wasn't good or that I didn't like him. It's just that too many people jump on his bandwagon and give him more credit than he deserves in my opinion. It just turned into a big thing once Freddy faggot fangers decided to run his mouth.

just some dong- January 19, 2010 at 9:47 pm

Fuck, if only he were the last gypsy. Those fuckers are everywhere.

HardKnockLife- January 19, 2010 at 9:29 pm

There is no reason not to believe that he can bang with the best of them in the UFC. Why do you think DW is so interested in him coming to the UFC? Or one a top trainer in MMA wanting him to spar with one of the best fighters in MMA? Its certainly not because they think he is overrated... I think that says more than baseless claims.

BigCountrysCholesterol- January 19, 2010 at 9:21 pm

Freddy I got your back bro. A few rules most posters have accepted: 1) 831 is an angry 15 year old kid 2) guys who use the term "exposed" are usually ignorant, ass-backwards trolls 3) Cecil Peoples needs to be dealt with. (#3 is off topic but jesus people you know what I am sayin....)

Smitty- January 19, 2010 at 9:21 pm

Anyone that has been involved in martial arts, mma, studied fighting, or is a TRUE, intelligent, fan of mma, can watch Mousasi fight, and see that he is a fighter that could hold his own or, be champion in ANY fighting organization in the world. He "IS" that good. There isn't a name in the UFC in the LHW division that you could say would walk thru Mousasi...including the champ! That's why it's such a big story here on CP; because it's this guy that everyone (except for a few doubters here obviously) knows is a freakin beast, training with this other guy that's known for stepping up his game by training with freakin beasts!!!

Questions, comments, cussin me????

Hulk Smash- January 19, 2010 at 8:20 pm

thanks for the credit! the magic 8 ball thing was mine. i'm right in there withe the samurai, btw. yeah, mousasi isn't a dazzler yet, but he's pretty fuckin' good. PLUS - the ufc will force him to either fold or step his game up, and nobody's mentioned yet that working with gsp is probably going to help him because a) a fighter like gsp has some things to add to anybody's game, and b) he's gonna have to be on his top game even if sparring with gsp, for the simple fact that he doesn't want to be made to look like a bitch by the smaller man.
that sentence was probably too long, but it stays as it is, even if you are not eempress by my performans.

Kimbos Bread- January 19, 2010 at 7:51 pm

TUF GUY, now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. A long time. For over a thousand posts, I used to be a guardian of peace and justice in the CP... that was before the dark times... before the empire.

Kimbos Bread- January 19, 2010 at 7:34 pm

@ 831 Son

Not really. I've reserved the term overrated for people like Michael Bisping, Chris Leben, Bob Seger and Sonny and Cher.

mma samurai- January 19, 2010 at 7:02 pm

Personally I'd rather watch GSP and Mousasi spar than watch GSP defend his title against Hardy. I agree with CP. I think their sparring will be more entertaining and competative than the title match coming up. That right there is worthy of my $45.

As far as Mousasi being able to hang in the UFC, I'd say he has a very good chance of doing so. He isn't the most impressive fighter or by any means gonna have his name thrown into the pound for pound best fighter mix anytime soon, but none the less he is very talented and has beaten some big names in MMA. I have to agree with Freddyfingers. The names he listed are all legit quality fighters. I think Mousasi would be pushed to a higher level of competition and would be forced to fight harder than he has before but I believe he could do it. Give the guy some more time and some more big name fights before we write him off as not being able to hack it. He is a legitimate champ in what is (as much as I hate to admit it) becoming a quality and legitimate organization.

831 Son- January 19, 2010 at 6:38 pm

Hahaha what a retard you are. I would love to see this "compilation of douchy posts" compared to the likes of you and many others on this site. By the way, you lost the argument. None of those guys can hold their own in the UFC besides Lombard and Jacare, if he works more on his standup. Note that those are only 2 fighters that hes beat.. And saying that those guys didnt make it out of round 1 doesnt mean shit and is completely irrelevant considering they are only decent fighters. Quit fucking crying you girl, hes overrated.

FreddyFangers- January 19, 2010 at 6:14 pm

Well 831 Son, I guess what I really meant, was that you needed the award for the compilation of douchy posts you have made in the past and present. I think TUF GUY and you are a special breed of windowlickers and I just want the others to take notice.......For arguments sake, there is no reason to think he cannot compete with the best in the UFC either. He has beat Sobral, Jacare, Manhoef, Kang, and Hector Lombard. Those are all legitimate fighters. Sure Kang didnt dazzle in the UFC but he is still a good fighter. Aside from Lombard, who might be the least known and most underrated middleweight out there, none of the listed fighters made it out of round 1 with Mousasi. Are ya on my level now, peckersucker?

831 Son- January 19, 2010 at 5:59 pm

Yea Freddy Fangers and why is that you fucking idiot? Who has he beat? His record might not signify that he is overrated but there is no reason to believe he can compete with the best in the UFC. Nice try you fucking clown.

ArmFarmer- January 19, 2010 at 5:45 pm

Andyinflam is pretty much right. They are just waiting for someone to get matt serra'd so that they can brag about calling it if it happens.

By the way, didn't someone use that 8 ball line in a comment here like 3 days ago? Still funny either way, but nothing compared to the koschek/johnson caption. Or the blevins "does this smell underaged" one.

FreddyFangers- January 19, 2010 at 5:42 pm

831 Son, you should be awarded for your continued excellence in ignorance and douchbaggery.

@righthand crazy
i LOLed, but that is disgusting

831 Son- January 19, 2010 at 5:32 pm

Mousasi is way overrated. If he came to the UFC he would be exposed for sure. I like him and all but I seriously think everyone is giving that man way too much credit.

Kimbos Bread- January 19, 2010 at 5:14 pm

Mooooooooosauceyyyyyyyyyy!

That saucey bastard!

AndyInflammatory- January 19, 2010 at 4:55 pm

How to make yourself look like an ORACLE

1. find the overwhelming favourite in a fight
2. state with absolute certainty that his opponent will win despite the odds against it
3. If you are incorrect, forget it ever happened
4. If you are correct, make sure everyone knows you called it, and how great you are